Despite trying to contact the vessel’s crew members, around 1,300 kilometers off the coast off the city of Puerto Madryn, warning shots were fired, yet the boat made no attempt to respond, according to BBC Mundo.

The boat’s 32 crew members were rescued by the Argentine coast guard.

China’s government has expressed “serious concern” over Argentina’s reaction to the fishing boat.

China has “urged intervention by its representatives,” in addition to an in depth investigation according to the spokesperson for the Chinese ministry of foreign relations, Lu Kang.